Ricardo A. Crocker, 39

Marine Reserve, Major

Based: Camp Pendleton

3rd Civil Affairs Group

Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom

Died: May 26, 2005

Haditha, Iraq

Single

Gender: Male

Hometown: Redondo Beach

Burial: Puerto Rico National Cemetery, Bayamon, Puero Rico

A life-size cutout photograph of Crocker in his combat gear stood in the Santa Monica Police Department's detective squad bureau. He had already come back from one tour in Iraq and they expected him to return safely again.

Michael S. Barnhill, 05/28/2005

Randy D. Collins, 05/24/2005

26 memories of Ricardo A. Crocker

“

Rick was my classmate at Pepperdine. We were working towards our Masters in Education together. He always kept the mood light and entertained those of us in his group with his great sense of humor. I will never forget the Cultural Diversity class we took together. It seemed the teacher had a bit of an agenda, and seemed to promote the idea that all persons of color should have a chip on their shoulder...Rick gave this nonsense back to her every class...he was the first to explain that he'd worked hard all his life, never felt shame for his culture, was proud to be an American first, and the teacher just couldn't handle that...I loved his sense of honor, duty, and love of country. We lost touch after grad school and when I saw his obituary in the newspaper so many years back, it struck me that the world had lost a really good guy. He helped make that intense year of studies bearable. You are still missed, Rick.

” — Maile, May 30, 2011 at 11:11 a.m.

“

I am the key figure for Crocker's two tours in Iraq , we were together most of the time , I was the first one to meet him in Iraq , I was working as an interpreter there and I was exhausted that want to quit working but he convinced me to work together to accomplished his mission ... He was the man who constructed many schools and youth centers in Rmadi province who helped to paved many roads in the city . he came to help you supposed to make statue for him in that place not to shed his blood ,,,, for the insurgents::: where are you know , nobody reminds you but Rich's soul is survived with the schools which he helps to built and all the facilities which he has done . Sir the last two weeks of your life we where not together and you have promised me not to go until I come from short vocation that you gave me ... but at the end I failed to return back to Al Asad camp ,,, the road was occupied by insurgents and you went alone to meet your destiny .. I have many memories for you ::: For me I promised you to be a school teacher and I am a teacher now ,, I can see you in the eyes of every thing innocent . I miss you sir ...... Your sincere translator ISMAEL

” — Ismael, February 11, 2016 at 11:41 a.m.

“

I am the key for Crocker's two tours in Iraq , we were together most of the time , I was the first one to meet him in Iraq , I was working as an interpreter there and I was exhausted that want to quit working but he convinced me to work together to accomplished his mission ... He was the man who constructed many schools and youth centers in Rmadi province who helped to paved many roads in the city . he came to help you supposed to make statue for him in that place not to shed his blood ,,,, for the insurgents::: where are you know , nobody reminds you but Rich's soul is survived with the schools which he helps to built and all the facilities which he has done . Sir the last two weeks of your life we where not together and you have promised me not to go until I come from short vocation that you gave me ... but at the end I failed to return back to Al Asad camp ,,, the road was occupied by insurgents and you went alone to meet your destiny .. I have many memories for you ::: For me I promised you to be a school teacher and I am a teacher now ,, I can see you in the eyes of every thing innocent . I miss you sir ...... Your sincere translator ISMAEL

” — Ismael, February 11, 2016 at 11:43 a.m.

“

I am the partner for Crocker's two tours in Iraq , we were together most of the time , I was the first one to meet him in Iraq , I was working as an interpreter there and I was exhausted that want to quit working but he convinced me to work together to accomplished his mission ... He was the man who constructed many schools and youth centers in Rmadi province who helped to paved many roads in the city . he came to help you supposed to make statue for him in that place not to shed his blood ,,,, for the insurgents::: where are you know , nobody reminds you but Rich's soul is survived with the schools which he helps to built and all the facilities which he has done . Sir the last two weeks of your life we where not together and you have promised me not to go until I come from short vocation that you gave me ... but at the end I failed to return back to Al Asad camp ,,, the road was occupied by insurgents and you went alone to meet your destiny .. I have many memories for you ::: For me I promised you to be a school teacher and I am a teacher now ,, I can see you in the eyes of every thing innocent . I miss you sir ...... Your sincere translator ISMAEL

” — Ismael, February 11, 2016 at 11:49 a.m.

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Ricardo A. Crocker, 39

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26 memories of Ricardo A. Crocker

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